GOA of New Jersey raises more than $1,500 for two GOA-based Projects More than $1,500 was collected at a Goan Association of New Jersey (GOANJ) picnic last Saturday following a concelebrated Holy Mass.
Two projects in Goa will benefit from the contributions by about 300 attendees during the annual event at the Princeton Country Club in West Windsor. The Cavelossim-based ASRO Aids Center will receive $1,304 and the Don Bosco Technical School for runaway kids in Fatorda will get $200. Some $1,110 was collected during and after the mass, and about $394 was raised from the sales of dosas,idlis and samosas shells. Rajan Vaz was instrumental in co-ordinating the sale of the snack. The collection is way above the $1,000 goal set aside by the Association, and far outstrips last year's amount of $654 for the Tivim-based Navgyothi Rehabilitation Center for runaway events, and $506 collected at the picnic the previous year for the same project. The highlight of the picnic was the election of Office-Bearers to the Association's Executive Committee. This followed ratification to amendments approved by the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees. The dynamic leader of the vibrant New Jersey Youth Group - Allan D'Guerra-who made an eloquent presentation on the ASRO project- is the Association's new Treasurer. Allan replaces Felix Menezes who takes over the Presidency left vacant after Chris Nunes stepped down to devote more time to the Goa Heart Foundation. Godfrey Gomes continues as Vice-President and so does Val Moniz who is the Managing Editor of the Association's quarterly newsletter - the "Goan Connection" and the Secretary - Teresa Cordeiro. All the five were unopposed. Later in the day, the Membership Secretary - Cleta Lobo led a group of singers in "belting away" Basil Magno's hit song - "Proud To Be A Goan"-as part of the worldwide World Goa Day celebrations by various goan groups. Tony Barros. Union, New Jersey. U.S.A. ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs